Downsizing after Your Kids Move Out

While your kids take many of their belongings when they move out or leave for college, they still may leave plenty behind. Dorm rooms and starter homes are often small. They likely can’t take all their furniture or unnecessary belongings with them. Then you are left with the rest of their possessions. This leaves you with two options. You can let their things sit in their room and collect dust, or you can re-purpose the room for your own use.

If you need to sort through your kid’s items, Leesport’s DAK Self-Storage is here to help. We know that downsizing can be an overwhelming task. Check out these tips to make the process easier!

Break Up the Work

When there is a lot to do, it is easy to get overwhelmed.

You may not know where to start and continually put the entire task off. The best solution is to split the workload into smaller tasks. Tackle the closet one day and under the bed another day. Make a to-do list for each day and check off each chore as you complete it. This will help you track your progress and help keep you motivated. It will also save you stress. You will have a plan ahead of time and not have to think as hard.

Choosing What to Keep

After deciding what to do, choosing what to keep and what to get rid of is the toughest task. Yet, again, you can make it easier with these DAK Self-Storage tips.

Make Everything a Yes or No Question

Don’t let yourself get caught in the trap of the “maybe” pile. Make a firm decision to keep or get rid of every single item. Use yes or no questions to help you decide. For example, “Has this item been used recently?” or “Will I and/or my child miss this item if it were gone?” Keep only the items you and your child really can’t live without.

Be sure to include your kid in the process. You don’t want to throw away something that is important to them. If there are items you are still unsure about, you can temporarily store them in a DAK Self-Storage unit.

Use the Room as a Guide

How big is the room you are working with? There is only so much that can fit in one room without it seeming cluttered. If you are converting your child’s bedroom into a guest room, office, or exercise room, you will need to make room. You may need to move a majority of the furniture out.

Measure any new furniture you wish to move in so you know how much room you need to make. If you don’t have room to store the furniture you move out, DAK Self-Storage can provide the extra space you need.

Sell or Donate Unwanted Items

Once you have your pile of unwanted items, you have to decide what to do with them. It is easy to just throw them away, but you can give the items new life by selling or donating them. If you sell the items, you can give the money to your child to pay for textbooks, tuition, or food. On the other hand, donating the items can make you feel good.

Organizing

Once you clear the room of unwanted items, you will need to organize everything you decided to keep. Be sure to buy shelves or storage bins to organize any smaller items. Square or rectangular units will help you make better use of the space. They are easier to stack and organize neatly. For more organization tips, you can also check our DAK Self-Storage’s blog. To view available units, follow this link: https://ecom.quikstor.com/dakselfstorage/index.aspx?Action=rent.